Just before he could be sentenced to 5 years imprisonment, Sanjay Dutt emptied his heart out to Filmfare. Excerpts from the interview...

Q.You’ve lost oodles of weight, you’ve quit alcohol and you’re looking better than ever. What gives?

(Smiles) I have done this for myself. It’s a fact that I had completely let go and developed a care-a-damn attitude. I had become a person who said things like, ‘This is the way I am and this is the way it’s going to be’. But that wasn’t the right attitude. Not for me, my fans or my family. So I made amends. Plus, I didn’t want to be overweight. One day, I just said to myself, ‘Enough is enough. I have to get my life back on track’. Bas that was it. I’m glad routine is back in my life after all these years. And isn’t it a pleasant change?

Q.Yes, it is. Apparently, you’ve even started reporting for shoots on time.

Yes, I make sure I reach the set early. It’s a great feeling to start work on time. You’re all charged up and focussed. There’s time for brainstorming sessions. I guess somewhere down the line, everyone must discipline themselves. Also, this change is for my kids. I want to be healthy for them. I don’t just want to earn for them, I want to be with them for a longer time, take care of them. I couldn’t enjoy the process of fatherhood the first time round, bahut complicated tha. So I want to enjoy each and every minute of it now. I love Trishala (his daughter from his first marriage to the late Richa Sharma) immensely but I didn’t have this kind of time with her. I’m trying to do all that I can with my children and for my children.

Q.Talking about Trishala, how are things with her? You were quite upset about her aspirations of becoming an actress...

I’m glad uske sar se acting ka bhoot utar gaya. She has given up on her acting ambitions at least for now. She’s such an intelligent girl, who’s done Forensic Science. So I could never understand why she wanted to give it all up and become an actress. Aur iss industry mein actor banne ke liye you need to know the language. So language would’ve been the biggest barrier for her. God only knows where she got this idea from but ab nahin hai. I hope she joins the FBI soon and makes me proud. Her education should be of some use.